Roller skate for hockey



' Jan. 24, 1939. i J, N BURTON 2,145,219

ROLLER SKATE FOR HOCKEY Filed Feb. 7, 1935 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orri cs 2,145,219 ROLLER SKATE FOR HOCKEY Application February 7, 1935, Serial No. 5,412

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved roller skate and more particularly to such a skate having a plurality of rollers or wheels substantially in longitudinal alignment.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved roller skate of this kind on which it will be possible to attain high speed, and at the same time to make quick turns or sudden stops.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable frame for mounting the wheels.

In carrying out my invention I provide a skate having a plurality of wheels substantially in longitudinal alignment and positioned approximately under the median line of the users foot in much the same manner as the runner of an ice skate is positioned. The middle wheel is positioned approximately at, and preferably just behind, the center of balance of the skater when he is standing on the skates. The rear wheel is positioned at a shorter distance from the middle wheel than the distance between the front wheel and the middle wheel, and the periphery of the middle wheel is slightly below that of the front and rear wheels for reasons which are more fully set forth herein. Means are provided so that the position of the middle wheel may be adjusted vertically, and also longitudinally with respect to the other Wheels.

The structure of my improved skate makes it possible to use the front and middle wheels, which are relatively far apart, to'attain high speed, and to make short quick turns using the middle and rear wheels which are positioned nearer together. Besides teaching balance of the kind required in ice-skating and being adapted for use whereever roller skates of the ordinary kind are used it is therefore particularly adapted for use in playing hockey.

It will be understood that the structure of the frame of my skate, as shown herein for the purposes of a full disclosure, and the arrangement of parts, may be varied to a great extent without departing from the scope of my invention which is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The invention will be best understood if the following description is read in connection with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved skate, shown coupled to a skating shoe.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front end view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an end view of a modified construction, wherein the frame is formed of sheet metal.

Fig. 5 is a side view of an adjustable frame construction, on a reduced scale.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 'l--! of Fig. 5, on an enlarged scale, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. '7 is a detail enlarged side view, showing an eccentric axle bearing.

Figure 8 is a detail side View, somewhat enlarged, of a vertical section taken on the line I ll-l0 of Figure '7. I r

In the drawing the numeral 5 designates a frame, which may be of any suitable material such as a light metal alloy, and which includes parallel angle bars 6 and l, which provide opposing vertical bearing flanges 3 and 9, and horizontal shoe engaging flanges Ill and ll, the

upper faces of which are disposed in the same plane. The vertical bearing flanges 8 and 9 are rigidly spaced apart by means of the integral connecting webs l2, spaced longitudinally from each other.

Under the forward end of the frame 5 the wheel 13 is mounted on the axle [4, supported on bearings I5, provided on the depending flanges 8 and 9. At the rear end of the frame the wheel 5 I6 is mounted on the axle ll, supported in bearings IS on the side flanges Ill and H. The ends of the axles may be held in place in any suitable manner such for example as the nuts shown in Figure 4 or other fastening elements.

Intermediate of the two traction wheels is and I6 another wheel I9 is provided, which as illustrated herein is somewhat larger in size and is supported on the axle 20, the ends of which engage the bearings 2| of the depending flanges T 8 and 9.

The horizontal flanges which in-the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein are integrally connected to the vertical side flanges by means of the webs 22 and are arranged in opposing paired members, and each paired set is located in line with one of the wheel axles, so that the frame will be reinforced against displacement of the axle bearin s.

The frame 5 is preferably cast, but a frame may be constructed of sheet metal, as shown in Fig. 4, by forming a pair of angle bars 3'! and 38, and connecting these bars to each other by U- shaped spacers 39, by spot welding or other fastening means. These sheet metal angle frame bars may be formed with drawn or struck out reinforcing webs 40.

The intermediate wheel projects through the slot 4| formed in the frame 5, above the horizontal shoe engaging flanges thereof, under the arch 42 of the skating shoe 43. To prevent the collapse of the shoe arch, against the tread of the intermediate wheel, arch supporting ribs 44 may be formed on the horizontal flanges of the frame, to limit the downward movement of the shoe arch, so that interference with the rotation of the intermediate wheel is avoided. The frame 5 is secured to the sole of the shoe by means of rivets or the like 45.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I show a construction, wherein the frame is adjustable lengthwise, and the intermediate rocking wheel is adjustable vertically. Referring to these figures 46 designates the intermediate frame section, 47 the forward frame section, and 48 the rear frame section. Each frame section includes the side angle bar system shown in the previous figures. The intermediate frame section 46 is provided with an angle bar 46a on each side thereof, which includes the vertical flange 46b and the horizontal flange 460. The forward frame section includes the vertical flange 41a and the horizontal flange 41b. The rear end section is likewise provided on each side with a vertical flange 48a and a horizontal flange 48b.

The ends of the intermediate frame section are placed under the inner ends of the forward and rear frame sections, as shown in Fig. 5. This will place the horizontal side flange 46b in contact with the horizontal flanges 41b and 48b, and the vertical side flange 46a in contact with the vertical flanges 41a and 48a. The horizontal meeting surfaces of the flanges are formed with corrugations 49, so that a non-slipping construction is provided. In the overlapping, corrugated end portions of the intermediate frame section and the forward frame section, registering longitudinal slots 49a and 50 are provided, which receive the headed screw bolt 5|, on which the nut 52 is threaded.

The intermediate frame section may be equipped with a large traction wheel 56, similar to the intermediate wheel shown in Fig. l. The axle 51 of this wheel is secured in the eccentric bushing 58, which is mounted for rotative adjustment in the bearing 59 of the intermediate frame. A similar eccentric bushing is provided for each end of the axle 51. The end of the axle 51 may be enlarged or nuts 51a placed on the ends thereof to retain the axle within the bushings 58. The eccentric bushing is held against accidental turning by means of the set screw 60.

By turning the eccentric bushings in which the ends of the wheel axle 5'! are secured, the relation of the tread of the intermediate wheel to the frame may be raised or lowered, within the limits of the eccentric action of the bushing.

By loosening the adjustment bolts of the sec tional frame, the sections may be separated from each other and when adjusted to the required length, can be clamped again, with the corrugated surfaces of the overlapping frame sections interlockedto resist accidental longitudinal displacement.

In using my improved roller skate only a part of the entire Wheel set is under tractive engagement at any one time. The intermediate wheel is preferably located nearer the rear end of the frame, than the forward end, and this places the nearest rear wheel closer to the intermediate wheel than the adjacent forward wheel.

In practice this results in a short movement for the rear end of the frame, and the rear wheel, and a longer movement of the forward end of the frame and its wheel, when the skate is rocked.

A skater can shift quickly from traction with either end of the skate, so that fast and daring turns can be safely made by a skilled skater, or hockey player. By balancing the body weight on the rocker wheel ashort and fast turn of the entire body can be made. It is noted from the showing of Fig. 1 that the large or intermediate wheel or roller [9 is located nearer the rear wheel than the forward wheel, so as to provide a rocking point between the heel and the forward arch of the foot, under the approximate center of gravity of the user when the skate is attached to the users shoe as indicated.

Having described my invention I claim as new:-

1. A roller skate, comprising a frame made up of an intermediate section and end sections, each frame section including parallel angle bars spaced apart from each other, the outer ends of the intermediate section having overlapping engagement with the inner ends of the end sections, means for clamping the overlapping frame sections to each other and rollers mounted to turn between the angle bars.

2. A roller skate comprising a frame, an eccentrio bushing journalled on each side of the frame, the bushings being arranged in opposition to each other, an axle mounted at its ends in the bushings, means for securing the bushings against turning so arranged that selective turning of the bushings to raise and lower the axle can be accomplished, a traction wheel journalled on the axle, and two wheels, one journalled at the front end of the frame and the other at the rear end of the frame, only two of said wheels being adapted to have tractive engagement with the ground at one time.

' JOHN N. BURTON. 

